Pencil-sharpener.



J. L. ALKIRE:

PENCIL SHARPENER.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. {915.

1,188,379. Patented June 27,1916.

WITNESSES: IN VENTOR. Com/w. J L/4L/1IHL'.

XM. I

THE COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH 00-, WASHINGTON. D- c.

" TED TATES 'ATE r onn on.

JOHN L. ALKIBE, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

PENCIL-SHARPENER.

Application filed January 22, 1915. Serial No. 3,777.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN L. ALKIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil-Sharpeners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pencil sharpeners and more particularly to sharpeners of the type shown and described in United States Letters-Patent No. 1119788, issued to me on December 8, 1914.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the provision of means for retaining the cu tting member of the device removably against longitudinal displacement on the sheath member of the same.

Another object of the invention is to form on the cutting member, longitudinal flanges which prevent its transverse displacement on the sheath member, facilltate its msertion into the same, and at the same time provide auxiliary cutting edges for sharp ing the graphite of the pencil after its wood has been removed.

An embodiment of my invention has been shown in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which,

Figure l'is a plan view of my improved pencil sharpener drawn to an exaggerated scale, Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1, Fig. 3, a fragmentary elevation of the end of the sharpener at which its chisel or cutting member is disposed, Fig. i, a transverse section along the line 4; Fig. 1, and Fig. 5, a perspective view of the cutting member, likewise drawn to an exaggerated scale.

Referring to the drawings by numerical reference characters, 2 designates the sheath member of the device made of brass or other suitable material, into which in practice the pencil is inserted, and 3 the cutting member which is removably secured on the sheath as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The present invention resides more particularly in the construction of the cutting member 3 which as in the form shown in the hereinbefore mentioned patent, is composed of an elongate blade of tempered steel which at one of its ends is sharpened to provide a cutting edge, and which at its opposite end is curved or rolled to provide a thumb rest.

The cutting member made in accordance vith the present invention, has furthermore,

means to removably retain it on the sheath agalnst longitudlnal displacement to which it is subject by reason of the pressure exerted when a pencil is drawn across its sharpened end. i

The improved cutting member has, fur-. thermore, means which facilitate its inser-f' tion in the sheath, prevent its transverse One of the pairs of lips, 4E,is disposed at an extremity of the sheath, another pair, 6, is formed adjacent the mouth of the same, and the third pair of lips, 5, is disposed intermediate of the others in a plane nearer the axis of the sheath to provide a support for the cutting member placed beneath the outer pairs. The sheath is furthermore pro vided with a. spring 8 which is formed opposite to its slot by parallel, longitudinal incisions and which is bent inwardly to gently press the pencil toward the cutting edge of the chisel 3. I

The blade of the cutting member is curved transversely as at 9 and it has at its longitudinal edges two flanges 10 which lie in a common plane at an angle to its curved portion. The curved portion of the member is sharpened at one of its ends to provide the cutting edge 12 for removing the wood of the pencil, and the corresponding ends of its flanges are sharpened to provide the auxiliary cutting edges 13 forpointingthe graphite of the pencil after its wood has been removed. The member has at its opposite end, a thumb rest which is formed by bending or rolling the metal, as shown at 14 formed oppositely on the longitudinal edges of its flanges to provide transversely alined shoulders 16.

To place the cutting member in its operative position in the sheath member, its flanges are slid longitudinally underneath the lips 4L and 6 and over the lips 5.

When during the sliding motion of the member the slanting edges of the prongs on its flanges engage the end of the sheath, the latter, which is made of resilient material, will spread to permit of the prongs moving underneath the lips 4 until they pass the inner ends of the same when the sheath will naturally resume its normal curvature.

The position of the shoulders 16 on the cutting member with relation to the ends of the lips 41, securely locks the member against rearward motion when the pencil to be pointed is drawn across its cutting edge 12. This feature of my invention has been found to be of great value in the operation of the article by virtue of the fact that persons not proficient in its use often fail to place the thumb against the rest 14- of the cutting memb r, and thereby cause its displacement during the cutting action.

Vihen it is desired to remove the member 3 for the purpose of sharpening its cutting edges, the end of the sheath is spread by the insertion of a suitable wedge until the lips 4 are separated to disengage the shoulders 16 on the cutting member.

When the member 3 is in its operative position on the sheath, its sharpened end-edge projects beyond the ends of the lips 6 so that when a pencil is inserted slantingly into the sheath, it will when drawn rearwardly, engage the cutting edge of the curved portion of the chisel which in consequence re moves the wood.

By turning the pencil repeatedly during its lengthwise motions, the wood is rapidly formed into a tapering point which exposes the graphite at the end of the pencil.

To point the exposed graphite, the end of the pencil is drawn across one of the cut ting edges 13 of the flanges 10. In this connection. it should be understood that it has been found dillicult to sharpen the graphite by drawing it across the curved cutting edge 12 of the cutting member, without breaking, unless more care is exercised than is usually i taken b T the avera e urchaser of an article -member sharpened at one of its ends and having its longitudinal edges bent into said guideway.

2. A pencil sharpener comprising a sheathmember having guide ways in the same plane and transverse shoulders, and a transversely curved cutting member having its longitudinal edges bent into said guide ways, and'provided with transverse shoulders engaging the shoulders on the sheathmember.

S. A pencil sharpener comprising a sheathmember and a cutting-member slidable on said sheath-member and having a stop which engages an end of the same, the.

said members having engaging shoulders transverse to the movement of the cutting member. 7

i. A. pencil sharpener comprising a sheathmember having guide Ways in the same plane, and transverse shoulders, and a transversely curved cutting-member having its longitudinal edges bent into said guideways, the said cutting member having prongs tapering longitudinally relative to its said edges and formed with shoulders which engage the shoulders on the sheathmember.

5. A pencil sharpener comprising a sheathmember having guide ways in the same plane, and transverse shoulders, and a transversely curved cutting-member having its longitudinal edges bent into said guideways, the said cutting member having a stop engaging an end of the sheath-member and prongs tapering longitudinally relative to its said edges and formed with shoulders which engage the shoulders on the sheathmember.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. ALKIRE.

Witnesses J. ROLLANDE'J, L. Rrroanns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by aduressing the Commissioner of JPatems.

' Washington, D. C." 

